Lost a C-clip!!!

Well I had this old Elgin Chrono sitting in my drawer for years that my partner in my Tattoo/Piercing shop took as a partial payment on some ink.



After he died I cleared it out of his basket of goodies. I was going to put a battery in it and found that the battery was encased in some type of chastity belt!!!



So I decided to get brave the other day and tear it down.



I was going to try my hand at polishing the case and maybe find a crystal somewhere (the mineral crystal is scratched and chipped) and put it back together. Hopefully after finding a new crystal.



Kind of a commemorative to my Bro. I did great until I got to the chrono pushers! Let me tell you, the little C-clips that hold the chrono pushers in place are so freakin small I needed a loop to find them. Well unfortunately I only found 2 out of 3....



So I guess this is my question. Can I find another one of these little summabeechez? Are they pretty much a universal size? Would I be better off looking for an old piece-o-shit watch somewhere to find another? If I can find another clip, how do I go about obtaining another crystal. Also, how do I get at that damn battery to change it. I thought by removing the 3 small screws, that would allow me to remove the metal chastity belt...BUT NO!!!! So I need some advice guys! INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW! Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Now DUFF is modding!

Holy Moly!

Find that C clip man and get'er'done!

Hahaha, I figured what the hell! I really hope I can get it cleaned up and working...just cuz it was my Bro's. One damn clip and a crystal away! LMAO!

Good for you Duff!

Here's the right tool. Remember, right tool for the job!

THIS is FANTASTIC Duff !!!!! What a GREAT watch you
have there ! It's amazing how you took it apart like that, and look
at ALL of the pieces too ! NICE job sir !..With the C-clips, I went
to a couple Elgin sites and didn't really find anything. I'm putting the
links in anyway, because maybe they will help out at some point. I
did find C-clips by the way. However, they are for Citizen, and Seiko
watches. Maybe they could work for you ! Anyway here you go
Duff !....

http://www.jewelerssupplies.com/watch-components-ss7.html#2037

http://elginwatches.org/

http://www.elginwatches.us/

http://www.ofrei.com/index.html

http://www.jewelerssupplies.com/Elgin.html

http://ptpwp.com/

damn, just had a great reply and it got erased due to me rushing thru that "another msg was posted while you were typing" thing.... oh well... what tom said!

Can't believe companies make it THAT hard to change a battery. It's the one repair you KNOW will be needed eventually...

Good luck man, you're in the right direction!!

. . . harbour freight. They had a kit there with some seriously tiny e clips at the local one here . . .

BTW, thats why we call them "fuck clips". When it took off, what's the first thing you said???????

Too bad about the clip....if they are steel, try a magnet to find it, works sometimes. Good luck with the project, should be cool when it get finished.

Duff - when you start putting the small parts back together try magnetizing the tools that you are using (rub against a magnet). This will help you keep them off of the floor and give you more control over the part. They actually sell them at sears for screwdrivers...but I'm pretty sure any ole magnet will work. Just remember, it is just like rubbing up against a tree...you need plenty of friction!

Duff, I'm proud of ya man!!! Got some cajones to try this.
Good luck finding a replacement c (fu**) clip.

Pretty ambitious Duff! hope ya find that lil sumabeetch, might be tough to track down a replacement, althought Tom has done some good link research.

That crystal looks pretty banged up but it might be polishable. Go to town on it with some Brasso and a clean rag see what u get!

Good Luck Duff! Will be looking forward to an update.

Holy crap Duff, when are you going to start modding your Breitling?

hope you can find one Duff. I have a few older parts watches , I'll look to see if they have c-clips.

falcon4311 wrote:

Holy crap Duff, when are you going to start modding your Breitling?

You're lucky you live in Canada Don!!! Mod my Breitling!!!

barnbuilder1 wrote:

hope you can find one Duff. I have a few older parts watches , I'll look to see if they have c-clips.

Thanks Ron. It would be cool if you had one. If not I guess I'll order from one of the sites AT put up. I'd really like to get this watch back running. Do you know how to take off the CAGE that's holding the battery in?

bodypeersur1 wrote:

falcon4311 wrote:

Holy crap Duff, when are you going to start modding your Breitling?

You're lucky you live in Canada Don!!! Mod my Breitling!!!

barnbuilder1 wrote:

hope you can find one Duff. I have a few older parts watches , I'll look to see if they have c-clips.

Thanks Ron. It would be cool if you had one. If not I guess I'll order from one of the sites AT put up. I'd really like to get this watch back running. Do you know how to take off the CAGE that's holding the battery in?

Is it true that they have a flame fusion upgrade? That would be sweet! Sapphire is so last century...

bodypeersur1 wrote:

falcon4311 wrote:

Holy crap Duff, when are you going to start modding your Breitling?

You're lucky you live in Canada Don!!! Mod my Breitling!!!

barnbuilder1 wrote:

hope you can find one Duff. I have a few older parts watches , I'll look to see if they have c-clips.

Thanks Ron. It would be cool if you had one. If not I guess I'll order from one of the sites AT put up. I'd really like to get this watch back running. Do you know how to take off the CAGE that's holding the battery in?

Since it's a Miyota (can't see number though) you should be able to go to thier website and get the assembly/disassembly instructions....I am pretty sure I've been there for this info.

andrema wrote:

Duff - when you start putting the small parts back together try magnetizing the tools that you are using (rub against a magnet). This will help you keep them off of the floor and give you more control over the part. They actually sell them at sears for screwdrivers...but I'm pretty sure any ole magnet will work. Just remember, it is just like rubbing up against a tree...you need plenty of friction!

STOOPID NOOB ALERT: Wouldn't that run the risk of magnetizing the movement parts, too? Couldn't that effect watch performance, especially if there was enough magnetism to impact the hairspring?

Sorry if this is a dumb question...

Duff - try this guy, he seems to have a pretty extensive parts list:

http://www.dashto.org/newlists/selectedamericanmaterial.htm#025

Thanks Mark, I tried looking through his inventory but it's infinite so I sent him an e-mail with the markings on the caseback of the old Elgin. I appreciate your lookin for me Bro!